Chapter 24: My Wife 24: I Want to Exclusively Possess His Tenderness
Originally, none of this should have happened. He was in a good mood today...
For Cheng Ruochen, attending court was not only a way to get a glimpse into some political affairs that interested him, but also a way for him to protect his treasures like the evil dragon in the mythology of the Western Regions.
Today, the third place winner was wearing the same navy blue official robe that Hanlin wore when attending court. He looked refined and gentle, and the evil and romantic temperament brought by his captivating peach blossom eyes was suppressed.
But the calmness brought by this kind of clothing only worked temporarily. When he curled his lips leisurely, revealing a nonchalant look, even though he stood in his place honestly like other officials, he still stood out as a loner.
Cheng Ruochen and Lu Huai's positions in the court weren't as close as they had been at the banquet. Even though they were only half a rank apart, many Hanlin scholars stood between them. He desperately wanted to follow his beloved with his eyes, to depict him over and over again in corners where he couldn't see, using love as the raw material.
But apart from the few words he could say when he first came to court, after lining up, he could only see Lu Huai's back slightly because of his height. He could only stare blankly at the moment when the ministers of the two factions were on the verge of a showdown.
Unexpectedly, he heard Chu Yuanting suddenly call Lu Huai's name and offer him a reward. Seeing that he refused to respond, he actually racked his brains to arrange a marriage for him. Hearing this, Cheng Ruochen felt like he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. A strong electric current ran through his spine, causing his heart to ache and his whole body to tremble with pain.
The emperor could still ask Lu Huai with a smile if he had a lover. It seemed that it was just a spur-of-the-moment gesture, but he knew Lu Huai very well... He knew without thinking that this was really a reward that touched Lu Huai's heart, and the chances of him responding were very high.
Lu Huai had always had a special feeling for Shen San. This time, Bai Xianming and Shen Meng's mischief had only intensified it. Looking at their ambiguous and unspoken expressions huddled in the closet when they were being set up, they might have already been in close contact in a corner that he couldn't see, just half a step away from physical intimacy.
With Lu Huai's gentlemanly character and pure nature, it is very likely that he has included this Shen San demon within his scope of responsibility. It is possible that the two have already promised to spend their lives with each other.
Cheng Ruochen still had a little hope, but when he saw the graceful figure bowing without hesitation, and expressing his feelings for the girl with a shy but firm tone, all his hopes were shattered.
He seemed to hear that when Lu Huai knelt down decisively, the court officials who were usually well-behaved and quiet when dealing with other people's affairs were quite agitated. They talked about the fact that the daughter of the Shen family had bad behavior and was about to lose her good marriage with General Pei, but was replaced by a good husband found by another daughter, and even the emperor appointed her. They thought that it seemed that the fortune of glory had been predetermined, and even if the Duke's Mansion had few male offspring, it was still destined to be a long-lasting one.
I'm afraid that anyone who comes here will be moved by the true love that this handsome and outstanding top scholar in the palace has for Shen San, which is evident from heaven and earth.
But Cheng Ruochen was an exception. He wasn't that magnanimous, the kind of broad-minded person who could smile and congratulate his precious child upon finding her life with someone else. So, every word Lu Huai said, even the bright expression on Chu Yuanting's face when he heard his reply, pained him beyond words.
Lu Huai, his Lu Huai, he always thought there was still time. Even though he knew Lu Huai's personality might lead him to his own door, he still had a thousand ways to make the intermediary links difficult, so that the two of them would ultimately be sadly not destined to be together. He was too arrogant, thinking that if he could take advantage of the situation and mediate between the Duke's Mansion and the several parties involved in the dispute, he could make the marriage go awry. But he never imagined that the emperor would disrupt his plans.
This time, he was really going to be abandoned.
How could Lu Huai, who already has a beloved wife, still give his eyes to this worthless thing who has ulterior motives towards him?
He was still dreaming of becoming the "mistress", but now the real mistress has come. This inferior counterfeit who has asked for it himself can only choose to either bless her withdrawal and be confined to the position of a friend forever; or reveal his true feelings and be completely expelled from Lu Huai's world.
But he was also in so much pain without Lu Huai... Could you, Shen San, not be so cruel and take away his life-saving medicine?
Cheng Ruochen felt as if his heart was on fire, and it wasn't enough to be burning. Someone was actually using a knife to grind against his soft spots again and again, wishing to extract his bones and blood in the most painful way, and finally make him crawl on the ground like a pile of mud and lose his life.
Seeing the emperor satisfied and Lu Huai thanking him, this situation can be described as "everyone is happy". His rational forbearance was finally overcome by his rising emotions.
Even though his control was so strong and he never lost control when he was around, and even when he saw Lu Huai and Shen Chensheng in that state before, he didn't let himself do anything he shouldn't have done, he still did such a tragic thing when Lu Huai was happy.
In his eyes, Lu Huai was the master and he was the servant. A lowly watchdog like him should have followed his master's orders and been happy for his master's pleasure. He absolutely should not have been so mad as to overturn everything, dragging Lu Huai up from his feet after he had thanked him, locking him in his house, and brutally doing to him what he had always dreamed of, until every sound he made was shattered, until he could no longer think of that woman, and only had him in his heart and eyes.
Perhaps, he didn't know that he could be in so much pain, so painful that he couldn't hurt himself, couldn't let the scarlet sticky liquid burst through his skin and gush out. He couldn't control himself and didn't go to Lu Huai with tears and blood to question him, asking him why he married that woman and didn't want him.
But he still couldn't completely control himself.
As soon as he woke up, he involuntarily floated in front of Lu Huai like a wandering soul, but was very rude and didn't say a word.
But Lu Huai showed no sign of anger. His clear and gentle gaze fell on him, and even turned into deep worry when he noticed that his hands were ravaged and bloody, and even the sleeves of his green robe were stained with an ominous crimson.
Lu Huai held his hand without a care in the world, not caring at all that his jade-white hand was stained with his blood and turned muddy. He frowned and asked him gently, "Xuan Ning, are you in a lot of pain? My house is nearby. Why don't you go back with me and I'll ask Xia Lu to bandage you?"
Seeing Cheng Ruochen remained silent, he was very tactful and asked him cautiously, as if not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable, "How did it become like this? If it's appropriate, tell me. You can tell me anything that bothers you."
Cheng Ruochen only felt the tide lingering in his eyes. The last time his eyes were so red and sore was when he was thrown into a cage for the first time and laughed at like an animal. He stammered out the word "I".
Lu Huai, since you are so nice, if I tell you that I don’t want to see you get married, can you not be with Shen San for my sake?
He thought he was really hopeless. Even Lu Huai's concern for him was instantly used as a weight on the scale by him to kidnap this pure fairy. It was really despicable.
But the coward Cheng Ruochen didn't dare to express his request out loud, nor did he dare to let the other party notice his sudden burning desire to lick his hands clean the moment his filth stained them like a work of art.
I didn't dare to bet that I would get carried away and do something excessive when I arrived at Lu Huai's house, and then I simply didn't have any sympathy left.
So he forced a smile and said to Lu Huai, "Thank you, Yanjin, for your concern. I'm fine. It's just that some recent family events have left me distracted. I'm a bit overreacting today, so please forgive me, Yanjin. As for these injuries, I'll take care of them when I get home."
Lu Huai pondered for a moment, then fished out a bottle of warm medicine from the inside corner of his clothes. He considerately didn't touch his injured palm, but gently placed it at his waist. "It's okay. We're good friends, so we should look out for each other. I'm just doing my duty. If Xuanning needs help, just call me anytime."
"But isn't brother going to get married? In the palace today, isn't His Majesty going to issue an edict for you and Miss Shen San? I'm afraid you will be very busy in the coming days." Cheng Ruochen was moved at first, but when he heard Lu Huai's words "Call me anytime", he couldn't hide his composure and asked aloud, which sharply exposed his concern for this matter.
A blush crept across Lu Huai's jade-white cheeks, revealing a hint of embarrassment. After a moment, he seemed to have thought of a response. He glanced at him again, his expression clear and sharp, and said sternly, "It's not settled until the decree is passed down. Even if I really marry Shen San, does that mean I'll distance myself from my friends? Xuan Ning, don't think that way. We can still enjoy the moon, drink wine, and recite poetry together in the future."
But of course he didn't want to just do this with him... He also wanted to be his wife. For a moment, he even thought that if Lu Huai liked women, it wouldn't be impossible for him to find the courtesan from Taoli Tower whom he had known before and learn how to dress up as a woman for him.
But if they got married, he would really have to be a mistress in an unjustifiable way - he had figured it out. He wasn't a great and upright person anyway, so as long as he could win Lu Huai's favor, he would be happy to pretend to be a woman and seduce him. As long as there was a chance, he wanted to be his legitimate partner.
After bidding farewell to Lu Huai, Cheng Ruochen retrieved the medicine Lu Huai had given him, supposedly developed by the family physician. Even the jade bottle still carried Lu Huai's delicate bamboo fragrance. He held it to his face with obsessive affection, inhaling the lingering scent of his beloved. Then, as if completely devouring the scent, he reluctantly tucked it back around his waist, regretfully savoring the warm touch of Lu Huai's care and the pleasure of his hands touching him, unsatisfied as he withdrew his thoughts.
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After returning to the mansion and bandaging his hand, Cheng Ruochen was still thinking about breaking up the family. He threw the imperial order, which was a law of the utmost importance and could not be disobeyed, to the winds and began to rack his brains for a plan and make some feasible arrangements.
He even considered teaming up with Pei Yu, whom he disliked. Wasn't that person Lu Huai's best confidant? He probably didn't want Lu Huai's attention to be completely occupied by that woman.
Eh, that's not right. I heard Pei Yu and Shen Chensheng had a past. He and Lu Huai both drew this woman at the Qionghua Banquet. Could it be that he also harbors some attachment, even to the point where his engagement with Shen Meng is superficial? Perhaps this person was the obstacle between Lu Huai and Shen San in the first place. That would be fantastic.
Now that they were about to part ways, if he used his childhood sweetheart status to his advantage and seduced that fickle woman, asking her to stop pestering Lu Huai and make his best friend and beloved woman leave him, would his Lu Huai transfer all his tenderness to him and fall back into his trap...
As for whether this incident would cause Pei and Lu to become enemies, that was not his business.
Therefore, Pei Yu's movements became a major issue that Cheng Ruochen paid special attention to after leaving the court.
Hearing that he was going back to Pei Mansion after finishing his business, he found the only way for him to return and waited for him.
When he saw Pei Yu, he didn't care whether he was frowning and tired, and didn't care whether he didn't want to pay attention to him for a moment. He just smiled politely and said, "General Pei, do you know that a big thing happened in the court today?"
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The author has something to say: Cheng Xiugou doesn’t know that Shen San is a man. He would be even more tortured if he knew. He is just jealous of Pei Zhiji’s identity and thinks that Pei’s target is Shen San, not Lu Huai. He wants to use him to send him and Shen San away, so as to inherit Huai Huai’s wife.
His thinking was sound, but the information was a bit off. A two-second silence. Pei Yu was truly a killer, haha. He really hit the second male lead's point of guilt.
But if Lu Huai and 0359 knew about this, they would be even more worried.
I'm so happy to see the fragrant liquid and the lovely comments from my wives. It gives me great motivation! I feel like I can type faster. Hehe, love you guys!
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2024-03-09 02:41:09 and 2024-03-09 21:38:26~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: Passerby, Rotten Wood is Hard to Carve 10 bottles; Su Su Zi 8 bottles; Dark 5 bottles; Going Against the Odds, Crane Alone in the West Tower 1 bottle;
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